Kosovo’s national broadcaster RTK has renewed its calls to be included in the EBU – and in turn, the Eurovision Song Contest.
Director-General of RTK speaks out
Kosovar broadcaster RTK has been calling for Kosovo to become a member of the EBU and Eurovision since 2013, with current Director-General Zana Spahiu, saying the broadcaster has demonstrated a commitment to joining. However, various stumbling blocks have impacted RTK’s ability to join the union, namely its inability to join the International Telecommunications Union. This is an important step for RTK’s application to join the EBU, which has not yet been fulfilled.
However, Spahiu said the upcoming General Assembly of the EBU could focus on changes to the Union’s statutes and possibly creating a new group of limited membership. If these proposals are approved, RTK could in theory join the Contest from this path, Spahiu says.
She also went on to say that as Eurovision is no longer confined to simple geography, the lack of inclusion of a Kosovar entry at the Eurovision Song Contest is becoming harder to justify. She added that RTK has shown its commitment to the Contest, developing its own version of Festivali i Këngës, that would serve as a national final if Kosovo is allowed to compete.
Hurdles for Kosovo
Currently, Kosovo is unable to join the EBU as its broadcaster RTK is not a member of the International Telecommunications Union. This is a fundemental issue which is required to be considered as a possible member.
On top of this, several countries in Europe also do not recognise Kosovo as an independent country, but rather a rebelious part of Serbia. These include: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovakia, Ukraine and Spain, some of which have their own regions vying for independence. Though passports from Kosovo are recognised across the EU, it is unlikely that Kosovo would be able to join the Contest unless receiving prior approval from other competing nations.
Kosovar presence at Eurovision
While Kosovo has yet to participate at Eurovision, there has been Kosovan presence at Eurovision-related events before. Most notably, Kosovo was invited to join Eurovision Young Dancers in 2011 in Norway. In the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, four acts from Kosovo have taken part.
The first of these is Rona Nishliu, who represented Albania but was originally from Mitrovica in the north of Kosovo. Nishliu finished 5th in 2012, which is Albania’s best result to date. Similarly, Lindita Halimi is from Viti in Eastern Kosovo but represented Albania five years later in Kyiv, though she failed to qualify from the semi-final. Kosovar-born Nevena Božović has represented Serbia at Eurovision three times, first at Junior Eurovision in 2007, then at Eurovision 2013 as part of Moje 3, and then as a soloist at Eurovision 2019.
The most recent Kosovar participation came in the form of Albania’s 2023 representatives, Albina and Familja Kelmendi. Albina was born in Pejë, in the western part of Kosovo. The family represented Albania at Eurovision 2023 with the song “Duje” which finished in 22nd place with 76 points.
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News Source: Kosova.info
Photo Credit: Eurovision-Spain